Dad's death offers some key lesson for seniors

After a valiant four-month struggle with cancer, my father passed away two weeks ago. I learned many valuable lessons, and will share them over the next few weeks.

Lesson No. 1: Funeral planning stinks.

Imagine planning a wedding in two days. You'd need to coordinate the event's schedule, secure a venue, notify guests, choose a menu, assign transportation and seating, find appropriate music, write a speech and arrange payment. With a funeral, all these obligations are required.

People would say "funeral planning keeps your family occupied." I disagree. It kept our minds clouded and frustrated. We were mired in the emotional trauma of losing my father, but were thrusted into the stressful planning process. All of this occurred in the two days between my father's death and his wake. There was barely time to reflect and grieve.

To all seniors: I highly recommend pre-planning your funeral. You may not wish to confront this process, but weigh this against the difficulty left for your family. If you still need a New Year's resolution, make an appointment with your local funeral home. Your loved ones will appreciate your forethought.

Next week I will cover lesson No. 2: How to handle credit cards of the deceased.

Billerica attorney James Haroutunian specializes in real-estate law, probate and estate planning. Contact him with questions at 630 Boston Road, Billerica, by phone at 978-671-0711 or by email at

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